The Climber

It is hard to describe what climbing actually means to me. I could give you some bullshit that its cool to send V15s or be the first up Everest. But its not true. Its not about the ratings. Its about how you challenge yourself to be better. With climbing there is always something more to be done, there is always another mountain. Why do I climb? The best way I can describe it is by taking a quote from the famous George Mallory; "Because its there"

Friday, March 8, 2013

The trip to Arizona commences in exactly 3 days now!! My excitement is rising with every tick of the clock and I literally want to sleep for 3 days so it'll seem like it has come quicker because I cannot wait for this!! We leave Monday afternoon and I have officially started packing. Packing as in, knowing what I want in which bag. The physical process of packing will happen 2 minutes before we have to leave as it always does. The forecast is splendid and the climbs look amazing. I am bringing my rope and my draws and my goal is to push myself on climbs at my limit and see if all this hard training has paid off.. which I have a feeling it has. In exactly 4 days, the blazing desert sun will be shining on my face and I need it more than ever.

Thursday, February 28, 2013

T-minus 12 days until I leave to go to Mt. Lemmon in Arizona to do some hard climbing. I have been waiting for this trip since I first heard about it like 5 months ago. I always love traveling to other places to climb and I haven't been out west since my trip to Hueco more than a year ago now. I will mostly be doing some sport and hopefully easing my way into Trad climbing. I simply cannot contain my excitement for this trip right now. It's all I think about!! And it is what's getting me through these couple of weeks. More posts will come when the time comes nearer and some when I'm in AZ but for now, I just want to shout it to the world that I am going to Arizona to climb. Bringing my Evolv shoes, my Primo chalk and my mammut rope with my and all my other gear and I am ready to crush.
All this training is going to pay off when I get there. All the pull-ups and push-ups that made my body ache for days. I will, once again, be reminded why I push myself as far as I do. It's because the feeling of getting to the top of a hard climb is a feeling not easily bested!!

Saturday, February 9, 2013

It's about time for another entry. This one is going to be on a positive note because my emotional roller coaster is in the high position right now. Hopefully it stays like that for a few days, but lets take it one day at a time. I had an epiphany in my A.P English class today and this epiphany I am not going to mention but I will say it has changed my thinking of almost everything in my life. Don't worry, climbing is still my favorite thing to do. But this epiphany was something of a realization that I no longer am attached to the things I was once attached to and that even though I may not be the happiest person in the world, I am pretty fucking awesome and I deserve to be recognized as such. Now, obviously I am not the person to go around yelling out that I am awesome or that I deserve appraisal. I am not here for pity or for recognition. The recognition that I spoke of earlier is merely recognition from myself of my strengths.
Now I understand that my feelings and thinking will change throughout the course of the month and there will be times where the feelings before my realization will return. But they will not be as strong and I wrote down all my thoughts during my moment of the epiphany so whenever I feel upset or confused, I can go back and realize that I can think that way.
This is Step 1. Next comes Step 2. And eventually I will no longer need to keep track of the steps in my life. All I need to do is put one foot infront of the other, get through this year, enjoy life, and get ready for college. That's all. Not big deal when written down in words. It's just one day at a time.

Monday, February 4, 2013

Your breath is one of the most powerful things in your body, maybe besides your brain. If you can harness your breath, anything becomes achievable. This comes along with climbing or anything anyone can be doing. If you can breath and control your breath then your mind becomes less worried about the future or the past and you become involved in the present. Whenever you feel stressed, overwhelmed, or worried about the past or the future, control your breath, stop thinking, focus on the present, and everything goes away.

Sunday, January 6, 2013

'Tis a new year and I have many things to look forward to. First off, this is the year I will be graduating from high school and going on to further my education through drinking and unprotected sex. However, just because that gem is on the horizon does not mean my mind can wander off from the task at hand. That task being of course surviving high school. I've been doing good so far and these few days in 2013 have proved hopeful. Needless to say, I am really excited for this year and I have drafted up some New Year's resolutions for myself. Now before you go and tell me I'm wasting my time with those things or that they never work, I believe that if I set my mind to something it can become possible. One of my resolutions is to get more in shape and start eating better. I have learned throughout my numbered years that in order for a goal to be a good goal, there must be means of accomplishing it. For example, I can't just say I want to get in shape. I need to label out how I am going to get in shape. So based on some examples, I drafted a little weekly schedule for not just my training but also my diet as well. I am hoping that putting things on paper will give me a sense of motivation. Fingers crossed.
I also just received news that my sponsorship with Evolv will live to see another day. I am super excited to be part of their team again for 2013 and I am also equally excited to be part of the Primo Chalk team for the first time. Their chalk is one of a kind and it is awesome to use. Well, I guess that's all that is going on in my life right now. Pretty much 100% focused on how to make 2013 a kick-ass year!! I have high hopes. See you all later!! Peace

Saturday, December 15, 2012

I'm in a coffee shop right now so I figured might as well mold into the stereotypes and blog a bit. Well my climbing life has taken a back seat to skiing. Hard to climb at night when you've been skiing a bunch during the day. Honestly, it takes so much energy out of me. Well, skiing reminded me what it's like to fail again and again and still have to try again. I've been climbing for so long, I almost forgot what it was like to be a beginner at something. Granted I have been skiing for ten years but I've never done free-style before. This is completely new for me.
I'll be honest, it is damn hard to free-style ski. Like, I fall countless times each day on my ass and it is so painful. But I am forced to pick myself up again and try the move over again. It is a great example of picking yourself up again and try again! One quote replays in my mind after I fall on my ass for the 20th time. "Success has been and continues to be defined as getting up one more time than you've been knocked down" This is the perfect example of my free-style skiing life. I fall countless times each day yet I continue getting up and trying again.
The newest move I am working on is a blind two-step off. Which is when I get on a box and then spin and come off the box forward. So I do a 270 on the box. It is extremely difficult for me. And I fall so many times. I am pretty sure my thigh is going to be permanently bruised for the rest of my life. I can't even lay down on my bed without being in a lot of pain. But, this winter break, I will put on my bright blue snow pants and bright blue sweatshirt and throw my skis on and hop on the box and try it again. I will try this move until I succeed and then many times after that. It is all about getting up when you fall down. This is where perfection comes from. Not being afraid to fall.

Tuesday, November 27, 2012

Due to the snow on the ground, unfortunately, outdoor climbing season is over. I managed to get a couple of burns on my bouldering project before I had to go back to school. I made my high-point which was really exciting and I figured out beta so I can send it next time, whenever that may be. So that's really exciting but the even more exciting part is that it is ski season!! I brought my new Chronic Line skis up and I am so ready to ski and hit some rails (first I need to learn how). Well, from this point on, it'll just be pulling on plastic all the time which is good because it means I'll get super strong and be able to crush the project when the snow melts. All is good and I am super excited for this snow!!!